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Collection Data
- Description
- Harry Hershfield (1885-1974) was an American cartoonist, humorist, and radio personality. The Harry Hershfield collection, dating from 1896 to 1979, documents his career and contains photographs, writings, letters, programs, scrapbooks, clippings, awards, certificates and a framed portrait.
- Names
- Hershfield, Harry, 1885-1974 (Creator)
- Dates / Origin
- Date Created: 1896 - 1979
- Library locations
- Billy Rose Theatre Division
- Shelf locator: *T-Mss 1979-004
- Topics
- Wagner, Robert F. (Robert Ferdinand), 1910-1991
- Circus Saints Sinners Club of America
- Lambs (New York, N.Y.)
- Cartoonists
- Humorists
- Humorous stories
- Masters of ceremonies
- Radio comedies
- Genres
- Albums (Books)
- Certificates
- Clippings
- Photographs
- Programs
- Notes
- Biographical/historical: Harry Hershfield was an American cartoonist, humorist, and radio personality. He was born in 1885 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was married to Sarah Jane Isdell. In the 1940s, Hershfield worked as a panelist on radio programs such as Stop Me If You've Heard This One and Can You Top This? Hershfield also made frequent appearances on television programs during the 1950s.
Hershfield entertained as toastmaster or master of ceremonies at countless banquets, dinners, and stage benefits throughout his career. He was a member of the charitable organization Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America, and the theatrical social club The Lambs. He died in 1974 in New York City.
- Content: The Harry Hershfield collection dates from 1896 to 1979 and contains materials related to his career as a cartoonist, humorist, radio host, and banquet toastmaster.
The collection contains examples of Hershfield's original humor writing, including a list of punch lines, joke setlists for banquets, short stories including "Barbara of Seville" and "Market Value," radio scripts such as Life is Funny with Harry Hershfield, and some original comic strips.
Ephemera from the Circus Saints and Sinners Club and The Lambs Club is featured throughout the collection, including newsletters, flyers, and programs. There are programs from events at which Hershfield entertained or was honored, as well as letters of appreciation for his appearances and participation.
Also included is a large framed oil on canvas portrait painting by the artist David Immerman of Hershfield with a bust of Mark Twain. The painting is dated March 8, 1964, and bears a plaque reading "Harry Hershfield / contemplating the bust of Mark Twain / Presentation by the Honorable Robert F. Wagner / Mayor of the City of New York, May 6, 1965."
A significant part of the collection consists of photographs from various events at which Hershfield was an honoree, toastmaster, or master of ceremonies. Many event photographs are grouped by subject, including political and sports figures. Hershfield was very involved in local New York City politics and was often photographed with former mayor Robert Wagner. Hershfield was also interested in boxing and baseball and hosted many events honoring athletes. The photographs of events at the Circus Saints and Sinners Club provide a significant glimpse into the intersection of Hershfield's interest in humor, politics and sports, with Hershfield hosting many events honoring a prominent political or sports figure. The collection also includes photographs from the radio program Can You Top This? and personal images of his family and early life in Iowa.
The collection includes several scrapbooks, including one created by the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge, No. 933, highlighting milestones from Hershfield's life. Another scrapbook contains ephemera and photographs from May 17th 1955, when Mayor Wagner honored Hershfield by declaring that the day was "Mr. New York Day," and Hershfield as "Mr. New York."
- Physical Description
- Extent: 7.13 linear feet (20 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
- Type of Resource
- Text
- Identifiers
- Other local Identifier: *T-Mss 1979-004
- NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b20785342
- MSS Unit ID: 22598
- Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 17b94b70-f298-013b-5d6b-0242ac110004
